Method and apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member of a container construction

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising a frame carrying a support that is adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and container body. A die is movably carried by the frame and is adapted to cooperate with the support for engaging against the cover member and form a depression therein inboard of the open end of the container. Means are operatively interconnected to the frame for moving the assembled cover member and container body off of the support by at least a load relieving amount before the die forms a depression in the cover member to relieve the support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation.

United States Patent 1191 Vogeleer [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A DEPRESSION IN A COVER MEMBER OF A CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: George B. Vogeleer, Richmond, Va.

[ 1 Feb. 6, 1973 Primary E.raminer-Robert C. Riordon Assixmnl Examiner-13. F. Desmond Attorney-John F. C. Glenn et a1.

[ 57] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising a frame carrying a support that is adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and container body. A die is movably carried by the frame and is adapted to cooperate with the support for engaging against thecover member and form a depression therein inboard of the open end of the container. Means are. operatively interconnected to the frame for moving the assembled cover member and container body off of the support by at least a load relieving amount before the die forms a depression in the cover member to relieve the support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation.

19 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 6 I975 SHEET 10F 4 INVENTOR. GEORGE B. VOGELEER BY 46M] PM #11141,

. HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTED FEB 6 I973 SHEET 2 OF 4 HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEU FEB 6 I973 SHEET 30F 4 .m M R E W NB r O i .r R w @E Q om x m A Ml)\l\l\|wi mm mm ms Nm 0 mm K a. Y B mw WNIHHJ T HHU \HR IH N? 0m 0m wv ww AMmN HIS ATTORNEYS eA/l 96m 5 35 90A I I I02 PATENIED FEB 6 I975 3,714] 58 SHEET '4 OF 4 I I I FIG.8

INVENTOR. GEORGE B; VOGELEER A11 9 BY lab m4, K

dil 4f HIS ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A DEPRESSION IN A COVER MEMBER OF A CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the automatic filling and subsequent sealing of food containers and the like, open ended container bodies are filled with product means and cover members are thereafter secured over the open ends of the container bodies to close the same.

However, it was found that prior to the complete sealing of the cover member to such a container body, the cover member should be stretched inboard of the open end of the respective container body by having a depression formed therein so as to not only force out some of the air in the container body prior to final sealing of thecover member thereto, but also to permit the cover member after the same has been scaled to the container body to expand outwardly and thereby increase the volumetric capacity of the completed container construction in order to offset any adverse internal pressure forces subsequently created in the completed container construction before such forces can destroy the sealed' effect of the cover member thereon.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved method and apparatus for forming such a depression in the cover member of the container construction.

One embodiment of the method and apparatus of this invention provides a frame carrying a support that is adapted to receive and hold an assembled cover member and container body wherein the cover member is assembled against'and closes the open end BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS struction produced by the apparatus of FIG. 1.

of the product filled container body. A die is movably carried by the frame and is adapted to becooperable with the support for engaging against the cover member and forming a depression therein inboard of the open end of the container body. Means are operatively interconnected to the frame for moving the assembled cover member and container body off of the support .by at least a load relieving amount before the die forms the depression in the cover member to relieve the support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation. In this manner, the support can comprisea conveyor for serially bringing assembled cover members and container bodies to the depression forming die and the action of such die on suc-hassembled cover members and container bodies will not adversely load the conveyor.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafterdescribed and illustrated as being particularly adapted for serially forming depressions in the cover members of product filled container bodies, it is to be-understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide means for acting on other articles as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Other-details, uses and advantages of this invention will become apparentas the following description of the present preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the cover member utilized for forming the completed container construction of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustrating the container body for forming the container construction of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrates the cover member depression paratus of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the apparatus in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary,cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and illustrating the cooperating die parts of the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG, 3 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

forming ap- DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT product filling station or apparatus 27, a cover member transferring and cover member tack sealing station or apparatus 28, a cover member depression forming station or apparatus 29 which forms the features of this invention, a cover member heat sealing station or apparatus 30 and a transfer station' or .apparatus 31 whereinthe covered and sealed container bodies are serially transferred to a flange beading apparatus or sta- I tion 32 for forming a curled annular bead about the sealed container body whereby the completed container constructions are adapted to bedispensed from the beading apparatus 32 to a desired location by conventional conveyor means 33.

The completed container construction made by the apparatus 20 of FIG. 1 is generally indicated by the reference numeral 34 in FIG.- 2 andfcomprises a container body 35 filled with suitable product means 36 and sealed closed at its open end 37 by a cover member 38lwhich is heat sealed to an annular flange 39 of the container body 35 that surrounds the open end 37 thereof and is together with the cover member 38 suitably curled orbeaded at 40 at the beading apparatus 32 of FIG. 1 to strengthen the combined cover member 38 and annular flange 39 at the outer edge thereof.

However, the container body 35 utilized in the pockets 24 of the table 22 is best illustrated in FIG. 28 wherein it can be seen that the annular flange 39 is originally substantially flat at the open end 37 of the container body 35 with the container body 35 having a bowl portion 41 defining a bottom wall 42 and an armate side wall 43 which is arcuate in any transverse cross-sectional configuration of the container body 35 between the bottom wall 42 and the flange 39 thereof. The cover member 38 is best illustrated in FIG. 2A and comprises a flat sheet of material having an outer peripheral configuration similar to the outer peripheral configuration of the annular flange 39 of the container body 35 whereby the transferring apparatus 28 is' cover member 38 on the product filled container bodyv 35 when such assembled cover member and container body are subsequently indexed to the cover member depression forming apparatus 29 of this invention which acts on such flat cover member 38 in a manner hereinafter described to form a central depression therein that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 44 in FIG. 2 with the depression 44 being formed inboard of the annular flange 39 of the container body 35.

By thus forming the depression 44 in the 'cover member 38 on the container body 35, not only is excess air inside the container body 35 expelled to the atmosphere before the cover member 38 is completely sealed around the entire annular flange 39 by the heat sealing apparatus 30 of FIG. 1, but also the depression 44 in the cover member 38 has stretched the cover member 38 inboard of the annular flange 39 of the consealed condition of the cover member 38 on the annular flange 39 of the container body 35.

If desired, the cooperating container body 35 and cover member 38 can be made of metallic foil containing aluminum and having a coating-or layer-of heat scalable material defining the inside surfaces of the container body35 and cover member 38' so that the cover member 38 can be heat sealed to the flat flange 39 of the container body 35 to seal closed the open end 37 thereof completely around the annular flange 39 by the apparatus'30in a manner well known in the art.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus 29 of this invention for forming the depression in the cover members 38 of the container constructions 34 includes an L-shaped support member or frame 45 havingone leg 46 thereof secured at its lower end to the support or base 21 of the rotatable table 22 and having its other arm or leg 47 disposed in cantilevered fashion above the table 22 so as to be in the path of movement of the container body receiving pockets 24 of the table 22 as adapted to simultaneously form depressions in the cover members of the side-by-side covered container bodies 35 indexed to the station 29, it is to be unders'tood that the features of this invention can .be utilized for forming a depression in only a single cover member or in any desired number of cover members in a like manner whereby only the mechanism for forming the depression in thecover member 38 of one container body 35 will be described with the understanding that like structure and operation is provided for the other cover member 38 of the container body 35 disposed adjacent thereto. I I

The piston and cylinder arrangement 48 includes a cylinder 49 secured to the support arm 47.and having its piston rod 50 carrying a depression forming die 51 formed of an inner die part 52 rigidly secured to the piston rod 50 and an outer annular die part 53 telescoped on the piston rod 50 by receiving the piston rod 50 through an opening means 54 thereof intermediate the inner die part 52 and a fixed but adjustable collar 55 carried on the piston rod 50. A plurality of Belleville washer-like members 56 are disposed between the fixed collar 55 on the piston rod 50 and a retainer 57 loosely disposed on the piston rod 50 and engageable against the upper surface or closed end wall 58 of the annular cup-shaped die part 53 whereby the force of the compression spring arrangement 56 tends to maintain the annular die part 53 in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 relative to the inner die part 52 wherein an inner surface 59 of the annular die part 53 is in abuttingengagement with a top surface 60 of the annular die part 52 so that the die parts 52 and 53 of the die 51 tend to move in unison with the piston rod 50 toward and away from thetable 22.

However,- when the inner surface 59 of the die part 53 is in engagement with the surface 60 of the inner die part 52; an annular lower surface 61 of. the outer die part 53 is disposed slightly below the lower surface 62 fonned in cross section so as to form a contoured depression adjacent the inner edge of the peripheral flange 39 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The inner die part 52 has its lower surface 62 defining a configuration similar to, but slightly smaller than, the inner edge of the annular flange 39 of the container bodies 35.

The conveyor or rotatable table 22 of the apparatus .20 has its container body receiving pockets 24 defined by stepped openings 64 formed through the table 22 manner illustrated in FIG. 3 when the flange 67 is resting on the shoulder 65 of the table 22. An opening 73 passes through each retainer 66 and is of a configuration complementary to the bowl portion 41 of the container body 35 will be received in the recess or opening 73 of the retainer 66 while the annular flange 39 of the container body 35 will rest on the upper flat surface 69 I of the retainer 66. In this manner, the bowl portion 41 of the container body 35 is suspendedwithin the opening or recess 73 of the retainer 66 as illustrated in FIG. 3 at each pocket means 24 of the table 22 when the assembled .cover member and container body is indexed to the station 29 of this invention. 4

A post-likepart 74 of the base or frame 21 of the apparatus is disposed below the table 22 at the station 29 and carries a movable backup member or plate 75 on the upper surface 76 thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The plate 75 is vertically movable relative to the post part 74 and carries a plurality of pins or rods 77 respectively projecting through sleeve bearings 78 of the post part 74 and having enlarged ends 79 disposed in pockets 80 of the post part 74 whereby a compression spring 81 for each rod 77 can have one end 82 bearing against the enlarged end 79 of the rod 77 and the other end 83 bearing against the stationary post part 74 so that the springs 81 tend to maintain the plate 75 against the upper surface 76 of the post part 74. When the backup plate 75 is disposed against the surface 76 of the post part 74 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, an upper surface 84 of the backup plate 75 is disposed spaced below the lower surfaces 71 of the 4 container body receiving retainers 66 of the table 22 so that the table 22 is adapted to freely rotate relative to the backup plate 75 whenever the backup plate 75 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

However, the backup plate 75 is adapted to be moved vertically upwardly into engagement against the lower surfaces 71 of the container body receiving retainers 66 when the table 77 has indexed such retainers 66 to station 29 so that thebackup plate 75 can slightly raise such retainers 66 upwardly relative to the table 22 by at least an-amount that would be load relieving of the retainers 66 from the table 22 whereby the'depression forming dies 51 can act on the cover members 38 andcontainer bodies 35 while such retainers 66 are being backed up by the plate 75. Thus, no adverse forces are imposed on the table or conveyor 22 during the depression forming operation.

The means for moving the backup member 75 relative to the post member 74 comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement 85 having its cylinder 86 pivotally mounted to the frame leg 46 by bracket means 87 and having its piston rod 88 pivotally interconnected to links 89 and 90 respectively by pivot pins 91 and 92 with the pivot pin 92 being carried by an extension rod 93 alsopivotally mounted to the piston rod 88 by the pivot pin 91 whereby the links 89 and 90 will be moved in substantial unison by the piston rod 88. The links 89 and 90 are pivotally mounted to the frame post 74 by pivot pins 94 and 95 respectively fixed to the links 89 and 90 and being interconnected to eccentrics 96 and 9'7 respectively disposed in pocket means 98 and 99 of the post means 74 so as to be engageable against the under surface 76 of the plate 75 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. However, when the piston rod 88 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 85 is extended from left to right as illustrated in FIG. 5, the links 89 and 90 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction and cause the eccentrics 96 and 97 to act against the under surface 76 of the backup plate 75 and move the same vertically upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 5 to engage against the-under surfaces 71 of the container body receiving retainers 66 to lift the same slightly off of the conveyor or table 22 by at least an amount that will relieve any loading against the table 22 by the retainers 66. However, when the piston rod 88 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 85 is retracted from right to left as illustrated in FIG. 3, the links 89 and 90 are rotated in a clockwise direction and thereby cause the eccentrics 96 and 97 thereof to lower the backup plate 75 back against the surface 76 of the post means 74 so that the plate 75 is disposed out of engagementwith the retainers 66 and the retainers 66 can again rest against the shoulders of the table 22 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The operation of the depression forming apparatus 29 of this invention will now be described.

When the table 22 indexes to bring a pair of assembled cover members'38 and container bodies 35 into position below the arm 47 of the frame 45 at the station '29 of the apparatus 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3, the die means 51 are in their up position and the table is in its down position as illustrated in FIG. 3 whereby the table 22 is free to rotate relative to the apparatus 29. However, once the table 22 becomes stationary in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the piston and cylinder arrangement is actuated to extend the piston rod 88 to the right to the position illustrated in FIG. 5 whereby the backup plate 75 is moved vertically upwardly to engage against the lower surfaces 71 of the retainers 66 and raise the same slightly off of the table 22 so that the table 22 is relieved of any loading that will be subsequently applied to the retainers 66. At this time, the piston and cylinder arrangements 48 are actuated so that the piston rods 50'move vertically downwardly to place the surfaces 61 of the outer die parts 53 against the outer peripheral portions of the cover'members 38 to compact the'container flanges 39 of the container bodies 35 against the upper surfaces 69 of the retainers 66 to hold the outer peripheral portions of the cover members 38 completely about the same against the flanges 39 of the container bodies 35. Further downward movement of the piston rods 50 of the piston and cylinder arrangements 48 causes compression of the springs 56 so as to further compact the peripheral portions of the cover members 38 and flanges 39 of the container bodies 55 together while the inner die parts 52 move vertically downwardly to engage against the cover members 38 and move the same downwardly therewith inboard of the annular flanges 39 of the container bodies 35 for about one-sixteenth of an inch or the like to form the depressions 44 in the cover members 38 by stretching the cover member material 38 inboard of the annular flanges 39. Thus, it can be seen that while the depressions 44 are being made in the cover members 38 by the dies 51 of the apparatus 29, the backup plate 75 is relieving any loading from such depression forming operation on the conveyor means 22 as the same has slightly raised the retainers 66 off of the table 22 to transmit the depression forming load of the dies 51 directly to the frame means 21 of the apparatus rather than to the table 22 thereof. In this manner, expensive backup devices for the table 22 of the apparatus 20 are not-requiredJ As illustrated in FIG. 6, the annular surfaces 61 of the outer die parts 53 can be provided with transverse grooves 98' therein which will vent any air being expelled from the interior of the container bodies 35 provides an improved method of forming such depressions therein. a

Reference is now made to FlGS. 7 and 8 wherein another embodiment of the method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 100 and parts thereof similar to the apparatus 29 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the links'89A and 90A that carry the eccentrics 96A and 97A for engagement against the plate 75A for backing up the container body carrying retainers 66A of the table 22A in the manner previously described are interconnected to vertically extending and axially movable rods 101 and 102 by interconnectinglinks 103 and 104 whereby verticalup and down movement of the rods 101 and 102 under the influence of cams 10S and 106 causes rota tional movement of the links 89A and 90A and, thus, vertical up and down movement of the plate'75A in the manner previously described and for the reasons previously described.

The cams 105 and 106 are carried on a shaft 107 rotatably mounted to the frame 21A by suitable bearing support structure 108 with rotation of the shaft 107 being synchronized with the rotational movement of the main table shaft 23A through suitable gearing 109 asillustrated in FIG. 7 whereby as the table 22A rotates or indexes respective retainers 66A into position below the dies 51A of the apparatus l00, the plate 75A has been moved vertically upwardly by rotation of the shaft 107 to cause the retainers 66A to be lifted from the table 22A in a load relieving manner when the table 22A stops in the position illustrated in FIG. 7 whereby the dies 51A can perform the depression forming operation in the manner previously described. Subsequently, when the dies 51A are moved vertically upwardly and the table 22A begins to index to carry the retainers 66 away from the station 29A, such rotational movement of the shaft 23A through the gearing 109 causes the cams 105 and 106 to lower the plate 75A so that the table 22A can now be moved relative to the plate 75A and bring a new set of retainers 66A into position in the manner previously described.

Thus, the apparatus 100 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 automatically raises the backup plate 75A into position in timed relation to the rotational movement of the table 22A to perform the backup function on the retainers 66A when the die means 51A are forming the depressions 44 in the cover members 38 in the manner previously described.

it is to be understood that while this invention has been described in connection with a rotatable table 22, such embodiment of the conveyor 22 is merely for the purpose of illustrating one type of conveyor that can be utilized and is not for the purpose of placing any specific limitations on this invention whereby it is to be further understood that'the various features of this invention can be utilized with any other type of suitable conveyor, such as a straight line conveyor where each operating station of the apparatus of FIG. 1 would be in an aligned relation along such a straight line conveyor of the continuous belt type or of other configuration a product filled container body comprising a frame,.a

support carried by said frame and being adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and con tainer body,'a die movably carried by said frame and being adapted to be cooperable with said support for engaging against said cover member and forming a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and means operatively interconnected to said frame for moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support, said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, saidrneans operatively intercom'iected to said frame being operatively associated'with said retainer to move said retainer off of saidsupport by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer has a surface interrupted by a recess whereby said container body is adapted to have an annular flange at the open end thereof rest on said surface of said retainer while the remainder thereof is suspended in said recess, said die being cooperable with said retainer. to compact said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer during said cover member depression forming operation.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said die comprises an outer annular part and an inner part annular flange against said retainer and said inner part being adapted to be moved relative to said annular part to form said depression in said cover member as said cover member is being so compacted by said annular part.

4. Apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising a frame, a support carried by said frame and being adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and container body, a die movably carried by said frame and being adapted to be cooperable with said support for engaging against said cover member and forming a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and means operatively interconnected to said frame for moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support, said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, said means operatively interconnected to said frame being operatively associated with said retainer to move said retainer off of said support by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation, said retainer having a surface interrupted by a recess whereby said container body is adapted to have an annular flange at the open end thereof rest on-said surface of said retainer while the remainder thereof is suspended in said recess, said die being cooperable with said retainer to compact said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer during said cover member depression forming operation and said diecomprising an outer annular part and an inner part movable relative to said annular part, said annular part being adapted to compact said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer and said inner part being adapted tobe moved relative to said annular part to form said depression in'said cover member as said cover member is being so compacted by said annular part.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim .4 wherein a piston and cylinder arrangement is carried by said frame and has the piston rod thereof interconnected to said inner die part, said annular die part being telescoped on said piston rod and normally being urged to one position thereon by a compression spring whereby said compression spring is compressed during said relative movement between said die parts when said inner die part is forming said depression insaid cover member.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means operatively interconnected to said frame and for moving said retainer off of said support comprises a backup member normally disposed out of engagement with said retainer and an actuator operatively interconnected to' said backup member. and to said frame to move said backup member against said retainer to lift said retainer relative to said support by at least said load relieving amount.

7. Apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the openend of a product filled container body comprising a frame, a

support carried by said frame and being adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and container body, a die movably carried by said frame and being adapted to be cooperable with said support for engaging against said cover member and forming a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and means operatively interconnected to said frame for moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loadingduring the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support, said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, said means operatively interconnected to said frame being operatively associated with said retainer to move said retainer off of said support by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation, said means operatively interconnected to said frame and for moving said retainer off of said support comprising a backup member normally disposed out of engagement with said retainer and an actuator operatively interconnected tosaid backup member and -to said frame to move said backup member against said retainer to lift said retainer relative to said support by at least said load relieving amount, said actuator including a cam engageable against said back-up member.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said actuator includes a piston and cylinder arrangement operatively interconnected to said cam for moving said cam.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a movable support, said actuator including means operatively interconnected to said support to move said cam in relation to movement of said support.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support comprises a conveyor movable relative to said frame and carrying a plurality of said retainers for serially bringing said retainers into alignment with said die.

11. A method for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising the steps of disposing said cover member and said container body in assembled relation on a support carried by a frame, moving, a die against said cover member to form a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support with means operatively interconnected to said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support with said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, said step of moving said assembled cover member and container body by said means operatively interconnectedto said frame comprising the step of moving said retainer off of said support by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said retainer has a surface interrupted by a recess whereby said container body is adapted to have an annular flange at the open end thereof rest on said surface of said retainer while the remainder thereof is suspended in said recess, said step of moving said die comprising the step of compacting said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer with said die during said cover member'de'pression forming operation.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said die comprises an outer annular part and an inner part movable relative to said annular part, said step of moving said die comprising the steps of compacting said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer with said annular part of said die and forming said depression in said cover member with said inner part of said die as said cover member is being so compacted by said annular part by moving said inner die part relative to said outer annular die part.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein a piston and cylinder arrangement is carried by said frame and has the piston rod thereof interconnected to -said inner die part, said annular die part being telescoped on said piston rod and normally being urged to one position thereon by a compression spring whereby said compression spring is compressed during said relative movement between said die parts when said inner die part is forming said depression in said cover member.

15. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of moving said retainer off of said support comprises the step of moving a back-up member into engagement with said retainer with an actuator operatively interconnected to said back-up member and to said frame to lift said retainer relative to said support by at least said load relieving amount.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said step'of moving said retainer includes the step of engaging a cam against said back-up member.

17. A method as set forth in claim l6 wherein said actuator includes a piston and cylinder arrangement operativeiy interconnected to said cam for moving said cam.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said support comprises a movable support, said step of movframe and carrying a plurality of said retainers for serially bringing said retainers into alignment with said die. 

1. Apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising a frame, a support carried by said frame and being adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and container body, a die movably carried by said frame and being adapted to be cooperable with said support for engaging against said cover member and forming a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and means operatively interconnected to said frame for moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support, said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, said means operatively interconnected to said frame being operatively associated with said retainer to move said retainer off of said support by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation.
 1. Apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising a frame, a support carried by said frame and being adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and container body, a die movably carried by said frame and being adapted to be cooperable with said support for engaging against said cover member and forming a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and means operatively interconnected to said frame for moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support, said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, said means operatively interconnected to said frame being operatively associated with said retainer to move said retainer off of said support by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer has a surface interrupted by a recess whereby said container body is adapted to have an annular flange at the open end thereof rest on said surface of said retainer while the remainder thereof is suspended in said recess, said die being cooperable with said retainer to compact said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer during said cover member depression forming operation.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said die comprises an outer annular part and an inner part movable relative to said annular part, said annular part being adapted to compact said cover member and said annular flange against said retainer and said inner part being adapted to be moved relative to said annular part to form said depression in said cover member as said cover member is being so compacted by said annular part.
 4. Apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising a frame, a support carried by said frame and being adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and container body, a die movably carried by said frame and being adapted to be cooperable with said support for engaging against said cover member and forming a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and means operatively interconnected to said frame for moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support, said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, said means operatively interconnected to said frame being operatively associated with said retainer to move said retainer off of said support by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation, said retainer having a surface interrupted by a recess whereby said container body is adapted to have an annular flange at the open end thereof rest on said surface of said retainer while the remainder thereof is suspended in said recess, said die being cooperable with said retainer to compact said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer during said cover member depression forming operation and said die comprising an outer annular part and an inner part movable relative to said annular part, said annular part being adapted to compact said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer and said inner part being adapted to be moved relative to said annular part to form said depression in said cover member as said cover member is being so compacted by said annular part.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein a piston and cylinder arrangement is carried by said frame and has the piston rod thereof interconnected to said inner die part, said annular die part being telescoped on said piston rod and normally being urged to one position thereon by a compression spring whereby said compression spring is compressed during said relative movement between said die parts when said inner die part is forming said depression in said cover member.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means operatively interconnected to said frame and for moving said retainer off of said support comprises a backup member normally disposed out of engagement with said retainer and an actuator operatively interconnected to said backup member and to said frame to move said backup member against said retainer to lift said retainer relative to said support by at least said load relieving amount.
 7. Apparatus for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising a frame, a support carried by said frame and being adapted to receive and hold the assembled cover member and container body, a die movably carried by said frame and being adapted to be cooperable with said support for engaging against said cover member and forming a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and means operatively interconnected to said frame for moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support, said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, said means operatively interconnected to said frame being operatively associated with said retainer to move said retainer off of said support by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation, said means operatively interconnected to said frame and for moving said retainer off of said support comprising a backup member normally disposed out of engagement with said retainer and an actuator operatively interconnected to said backup member and to said frame to move said backup member against said retainer to lift said retainer relative to said support by at least said load relieving amount, said actuator including a cam engageable against said back-up member.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said actuator includes a piston and cylinder arrangement operatively interconnected to said cam for moving said cam.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a movable support, said actuator including means operatively interconnected to said support to move said cam in relation to movement of said support.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support comprises a conveyor movable relative to said frame and carrying a plurality of said retainers for serially bringing said retainers into alignment with said die.
 11. A method for forming a depression in a cover member assembled against and closing the open end of a product filled container body comprising the steps of disposing said cover member and said container body in assembled relation on a support carried by a frame, moving a die against said cover member to form a depression therein inboard of said open end of said container body, and moving said assembled cover member and container body off of said support with means operatively interconnected to said support by at least a load relieving amount before said die forms said depression in said cover member to relieve said support from substantially any loading during the cover member depression forming operation, said support carrying a retainer that is movable relative to said support with said retainer being adapted to receive and hold said assembled cover member and container body, said step of moving said assembled cover member and container body by said means operatively interconnected to said frame comprising the step of moving said retainer off of said support by at least said load relieving amount before said cover member depression forming operation.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said retainer has a surface interrupted by a recess whereby said container body is adapted to have an annular flange at the open end thereof rest on said surface of said retainer while the remainder thereof is suspended in said recess, said step of moving said die comprising the step of compacting said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer with said die during said cover member depression forming operation.
 13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said die comprises an outer annular part and an inner part movable relative to said annular part, said step of moving said die comprising the steps of compacting said cover member and said annular flange against said surface of said retainer with said annular part of said die and forming said depression in said cover member with said inner part of said die as said cover member is being so compacted by said annular part by moving said inner die part relative to said outer annular die part.
 14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein a piston and cylinder arrangement is carried by said frame and has the piston rod thereof interconnected to said inner die part, said annular die part being telescoped on said piston rod and normally being urged to one position thereon by a compression spring whereby said compression spring is compressed during said relative movement between said die parts when said inner die part is forming said depression in said cover member.
 15. A metHod as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of moving said retainer off of said support comprises the step of moving a back-up member into engagement with said retainer with an actuator operatively interconnected to said back-up member and to said frame to lift said retainer relative to said support by at least said load relieving amount.
 16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said step of moving said retainer includes the step of engaging a cam against said back-up member.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said actuator includes a piston and cylinder arrangement operatively interconnected to said cam for moving said cam.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said support comprises a movable support, said step of moving said retainer by said cam comprising the step of moving said cam in relation to movement of said support. 